COMEBACK king Ricky Walden will take on world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan in tomorrow’s Shanghai Masters final. The 25-year-old from Bagillt set-up the showpiece showdown with the 32-year-old three-time world champion after showing yet more incredible powers of recovery to beat Mark Selby 6-4 in today’s first last-four clash. World number 35 Walden, as he had done earlier in the week against Stephen Hendry, Neil Robertson and Steve Davis, was staring defeat in the face when he trailed 2-0 and then 4-1 to the world number four from Leicester. But Selby, the reigning Masters and Welsh Open champion, was pegged back in the sixth frame and from that point on Walden never looked back. He levelled the contest with runs of 58 and 86 before sealing his place in the final of a rankings tournament for the first time in his career with a 34 and a 36 and then a 47. Walden, whose previous best performance was a quarter-final reverse to seven-time world champion Hendry in the China Open three years ago, said: “I’m thrilled to bits to be in my first final but it was a real struggle out there this afternoon. “I had a bit of luck today but then I’ve had plenty of bad luck over my career so I think it evens itself out, but I’m happy to have some today.” The former Flint High School student’s victory over Selby means he has now defeated players with a combined total of 67 ranking event titles this week. Walden, who will relax this evening by watching Avril Lavigne in concert, said: “To be honest for three years in my head I’ve been expecting to come to events and win them, so it’s good to get to a final at last.” Reigning world champion O’Sullivan won today’s second semi-final with world number two Stephen Maguire 6-5. If he triumphs tomorrow, ‘The Rocket’ will become the first player since Hendry 15 years ago to win three consecutive ranking tournaments. | 
Flintshire Sport 
